R20m investment in producing that valued commodity: chocolate

A single of South Africa’s premier sweet and sweet companies, Richester Foods, has invested R20 million in new chocolate producing amenities at its manufacturing unit in Centurion in Gauteng.

The owner-managed non-public corporation that started in 2005 now generates an intensive selection of confectionery – together with chewy and challenging-boiled sweets, toffees, eclairs, lollipops, bubblegum, chewing gum, ball gum, marshmallows and sherbet – and describes alone as obtaining turn out to be “one of the most important players in the sweet industry in Africa”.

It launched a domestically developed chocolate termed Coco Bongo, costing just R2.50 for every 21g bar (the similar body weight as a Chomp or Bar One particular Mini), in January – and has by now sold around fifty percent a million bars.

The Coco Bongo bar is produced of milk chocolate and has a creamy centre. Impression: Equipped

The corporation aims to expand its generation potential to 20 million Coco Bongo bars for every month above the next two many years.

This is envisioned to see the factory utilize an more 150 team to its recent crew.

Richester Foods owner and MD Dr Hussein Cassim suggests the very affordable rate tag of the Coco Bongo chocolate bar will increase gains along the worth chain, such as for various organizations, spaza stores and modest vendors.

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“We’ve reverse-engineered the price tag tag to be certain that our consumers are capable to make up to 100% revenue, while at the same time selling Coco Bongo at a highly affordable rate for customers,” he states.

“Rather than asking buyers to preserve for times or months for luxury sweets, we want Coco Bongo to be portion of consumer’s every day life.”

Swiss enter, African components

He suggests the chocolate bar, which attributes milk chocolate and a creamy centre, is the end result of investigation and worldwide consultations with “chocolate masters” from Switzerland.

The bars are manufactured from cocoa mostly purchased from farmers in Africa whilst other components are locally sourced.

“This is a level of delight for Richester Foods,” claims Cassim.

“As a proudly South African business, we want to enjoy a significant role in work development, and we don’t want to depend on other countries to provide our solution elements.”

The company now employs an supplemental 50 total-time workers in its new chocolate division, which capabilities in-residence chillers and chilly storage amenities as effectively as laboratories for solution tests.

Read: Chocolate maker turns cocoa plant’s squander into overall health drink

“There is stiff competitiveness from entrenched brand names, but we have the benefit in terms of comprehending neighborhood preferences and palates, which we’ve integrated into Coco Bongo,” claims Cassim.

“Going ahead, we also hope to capitalise on industry options in neighbouring countries to mature our footprint and industry share.”

“Ultimately, we consider that the chocolate marketplace provides tremendous advancement possible, with significant possible for unlocking enterprise and employment prospects all through price chains,” he provides.

Nondumiso Lehutso is a Moneyweb intern.